22 JANUARY 1921, Page 2

M. Briand on Sunday took office in succession to M.

Leygues as Premier of France. M taoul Peret, the President of the Chamber, failed to form t Ministry because M. Briand and M. Poineare both wanted the Foreign Office. M. Briand solved the difficulty by forming his own Ministry„_ with himself as Foreign Minister, and leaving M. Poincare. aut. M. Briand has been Premier four times.before, and is unquestionably one of the ablest. of French statesmen. His Cabinet represents a coalition of the moderate Republican parties ancLincludes M. Doumer as Minister of Finance and M. Barthou as Minister for War.